Muffler



Jan. 4, 1949. H. HEDRICK MUFFLER Filed Sept. 10. 1943 Patented Jan. 4,1949 MUFFLER Gale H. Hedriek, Chicago, 111., assignor to MaremontAutomotive, Products, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplieation.September 10, 1943;.Serial No. 501,874-

9. Claims. 1

The. present invention relates to improvements in mufflers for internalcombustion engines.

The primary object of the present invention consists in providing amuiiler with means. for reducing the velocity of the exhaust gasesdischarged to the atmosphere. This means comprises forming the mufllerwith an inlet opening and an elongated outlet opening or slot. Theseopenings are so proportioned that the cross-sectional area of the outletopening is always equal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of.the inlet opening or openings to insure the exhaust gases discharging atlow velocity from the muffler.

Another object comprehends the provision of a muffler of any suitableshape having an elongated outlet opening with which coacts baflle meanspositioned within the muffler for reducing the velocity of the gases asthey enter the atmosphere.

A further object is to provide a muflier in which the velocity of gasesintroduced to the atmosphere is so markedly reduced as to (1) preventflaming of the exhaust, (2) dilute and cool the exhaust gases topreclude condensation, (3) eliminate the blowing of oil particles andcarbon out of the, exhaust and (4) preclude the discharge of obnoxiousodors.

The mufiier is arranged to be used with any type of internal combustionengine and when associated with a vehicle or an airplane is preferablypositioned so that the, exhaust gases are liberated to the atmospherein: the slip stream to create. a suction efiect upon the exhaust linewhich substantially reduces back pressure. The improved form of muflieralso materially increases the efiiciency of a supercharger and in. someinstances dispenses with the use of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which are shown several preferredembodiments the invention may assume:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a further modification of the mufiier;

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1, partly in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-l8of Figure 1.;

Figure 4 is an elevation of another modification;

Figure is an end view of Figure 4, partlyin section, and.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2l2| ofFigure 4.

Referring to: the drawings, and particularly Figures; 1, 2 and 3, themuflier is constructed and arranged to be associated with the exhaustpipe leading from a Diesel motor (not shown) of the type used on powershovel-s. The elongated casing 65 is preferably of cylindrical shape incross-section and is provided with a: series of spaced depending tubularinlet nipples 66. Six of. these inlets are shown, but the number maybevaried and each inlet nipple 66 is preferably formed at its. outer endwith slots 61 so asto telescopically receive the adjacent end of anexhaust pipe and be firmly secured thereto by suitable clamping means,such as shown at 68. The ends of the muffler 65 are closed bythe walls69 and the mufller is provided with an elongatedopening or slot 10preferably co;-extensive in length with the muiiler; The length of themuffler 65 and the, cross-sectional area of the opening M are. such thatthe area of the opening Hi is equaltc. or greater than the combinedcrossrsectional areaaof the inlet 66. The opposite sides oftheopening 10may be provided with outwardly extending flanges 1 I; formed by angleironsiand. providing. an outwardly flaring passage directing theexhaustgases to the atmosphere.

Withinthe-m-uiiler t5 and extending the, length thereof are a pair ofcurved or arcuate radially extending metal partition members inthe, formof: sheets, or plates 12- and 1.3(Fig. L7) which are positioned so; thatthey curve in opposite directions and have their central portionsdisposed tangential to each other as shown at 14. These bafilemembersextend throughout the length of the muffler and have their edgessuitably, connected to the interior wall thereof asshown. The; member 12' is positioned to comprehend the inlets 66;. The arcua-te portion ofthe baffle member l2, extending from the point of tangency 14 to; thewallet the muiiler adjacent the outlet 10 continuous, i. e. notperforated, as shown at 15,,while the arcuate portion of the member 121remote fromthe. outlet 10 and extendin 'from the point ct tangency 14 tothe mufller wall is perforated, a shown. at 1.6. The member 13 isperforated throughout its area. In this manner, gases en.- tie-ring thecompartment 11 defined by the mem-- ber 12 pass through the perforations18 into the communicating compartment 18, and thence into the.communicating compartment 19 defined by themember 13. From this lattercompartmenhthe gases pass intothe communicating compartment 802 from.which they discharge into the atmosphere through the opening Ill. Notonly is the velocity of the gas from the exhaust reduced, but it isexpanded and cooled in such a manner as to leave the outlet 10 in a.smooth continuous stream having a favorable low velocity. The mufllershown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, having the baffle members 12, 13, has beenfound highly efficient when used in conjunction with the exhaust of aDiesel engine, such as is employed on road machinery, e. g. powershovels.

In the modification shown in Figures 4, 5, and

6, the muffler 82 is arranged to be connected with the exhaust of anengine of the type used on "Jeeps and other similar motor vehicles. Themufiler 82 is of cylindrical shape and has two spaced inlet nipples 83arranged to be connected by any suitable clamping means to the exhaustpipe of the motor (not shown). ends 84 and an elongated narrow exhaustoutlet 85 which extends the length of the mufiler and may be providedwith a downwardly inclined discharge nozzle 88, shown disposed at anacute angle relative to the inlets 83, but which may be at any otherdesirable angle. Within the muflier are four radially extending bafllemembers or partition plates 88, 89, 98, and 9| which divide the interiorof the casing into four separate compartments. The member 88 which isdisposed between the inlets 83 and the outlet 85 is con-- tinuous i. e.not perforated so as to cut off the entrant gases from directcommunication with the outlet. The members 89, 9D, and SI are perforatedso that the exhaust gases discharged into the muffler are required tocirculate through each of the four compartments defined by the baffleplates between the continuous member 88 and the perforated member 89.The length of the muliler 82 and the cross-sectional area of the outlet85 are such that the area of the opening 85 is equal to or greater thanthe total cross-sectional areas of the inlets 83 so as to reduce thevelocity of the exhaust gas discharged to the atmosphere. The muffler isconnected to any suitable part of the Jeep; it may be positioned underone of the front mud guards.

It will be observed that in all forms of the invention the length andwidth of the exhaust outlet in the mufiler has a cross-sectional areaequal to or greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet orinlets, so that the exhaust gases will discharge at low velocity to theatmosphere. Moreover, each of the mufilers is provided with baffle meansfor causing the exhaust gases to lose velocity while circulating throughthe mufiler and also the gases are permitted to expand and cool beforebeing discharged to the atmosphere at low velocity. The gases introducedto the atmosphere are subjected to dilution, due to the nature of theoutlet, whereby the exhaust gases are more readily mixed with theatmosphere than if they were exhausted through a round pipe at highvelocity. Also, the several muiliers with their baffle structures form,in efiect, resonating chambers to eliminate noise. Further, the shapeand size of the exhaust outlet is such that when the mufller isassociated with a motor vehicle or an airplane, it may be positioned inthe slipstream, so as to produce a low pressure area about the outletand eliminate back pressure, thereby increasing the efiiciency of themotor.

It will be understood that the several forms of the invention shown aremerely illustrative of preferred embodiments, and that such changes maybe made as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the The mufller has I 4 spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A mufller comprising a casing having an inlet and an elongated outletof reduced Width with respect to the inlet, the cross-sectional area ofthe outlet being at least equal to the cross-sectional area of theinlet,and means within the casin separating the same in-to compartments, saidmeans including plates having perforations, one of said plates having anon-perforated portion, the non-perforated portion being disposedbetween the inlet and outlet so that the exhaust gases circulate throughthe separate compartments before discharging through the outlet to theatmosphere.

2. A muffler comprising a casing having an inlet and an elongated outletOf reduced width with respect to the inlet, the cross-sectional area ofthe outlet being at least equal to the cross-sectional area of theinlet, and means within the casing separating the same intocompartments, said means including oppositely curved plates havingperforations, one' of said plates having a nonperforated portion, thenon-perforated portion being disposed between the inlet and outlet sothat the exhaust gases circulate through the separate compartmentsbefore discharging through the outlet to the atmosphere.

3. A muiiler comprising a casing having an inlet and an elongated outletof reduced width with respect to the inlet. the cross-sectional area ofthe outlet being at least equal to that of the inlet so to reduce thevelocity of the gas discharged through the outlet, spaced radiallyextending plateswithin. the casing, one of said plates being continuousand positioned between the inlet and outlet and other of said platesbeing perforated, said plates dividing the interior of the casing intocompartments through which the exhaust gases circulate prior to beingdischarged through the outlet to the atmosphere.

4. A muiiler comprising a cylindrical casing having spaced inletopenings and an elongated outlet opening of reduced Width with respectto the inlet disposed at an acute angle to the inlet openings, thec1Oss-secti0nal area of the outlet being at least equal to that of theinlet so as to reduce the velocity of the gas discharged through theoutlet, spaced radially extending plate within the casing. one of saidplates being continuous and positioned between the inlet and outlet and.other of said plates being perforated, said plates dividing the interiorof the easing into compartments through which the exhaust gasescirculate prior to being discharged through the outlet to theatmosphere.

5. A muffler comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end andan elongated outlet opening in the side thereof and means within thecasing separating the same into compartments, said means includingradially extending partition members, one of said members having anon-pen forated portion disposed between the inlet and outlet of themuflier.

6. A mufiier comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end andan outlet opening in the side thereof and means within the casingseparatin the same into compartments, said means including radiallyextending partition members, one of said members having a non-perforatedportion disposed between the inlet and outlet of the rnuiller.

'7. Amuifier comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end andan outlet opening of 5 an area at least equal to that of the inletopening in the side thereof and means within the casin separating thesame into compartments, said means including radially extendingpartition members, one 01' said members having a non-perforated portiondisposed between the inlet and outlet of the mufiier.

8. A mufller comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end andan outlet opening of an area greater than that of the inlet opening inthe side thereof and means within the casing separating the same intocompartments, said means including radially extending partition members,one of said members having a non-perforated portion disposed between theinlet and outlet of the muflier.

9. A mufller comprising a casing having an inlet opening in one end andan elongated outlet opening in the side thereof, and means within thecasing separating the same into compartments, said means includingradially extending oppositely curved partition members having tangentialengagement, one of said members having a nonperforated portion disposedbetween the inlet and outlet of the mufiier.

GALE H. HEDRICK.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 2,270,115E1101; Jan. 13, 1942 2,343,371 Fisher Mar. '7, 1944

